US4586297A - Agricultural greenhouse with a flat roof - Google Patents

Agricultural greenhouse with a flat roof Download PDF

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Publication number
US4586297A
US4586297A US06/604,013 US60401384A US4586297A US 4586297 A US4586297 A US 4586297A US 60401384 A US60401384 A US 60401384A US 4586297 A US4586297 A US 4586297A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
covering elements
covering
agricultural greenhouse
angle
horizontal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US06/604,013
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English (en)
Inventor
Jean P. Tagiasco
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
J T PROVINCE SA
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J T PROVINCE SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by J T PROVINCE SA filed Critical J T PROVINCE SA
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Publication of US4586297A publication Critical patent/US4586297A/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/14—Greenhouses
    • A01G9/1438—Covering materials therefor; Materials for protective coverings used for soil and plants, e.g. films, canopies, tunnels or cloches
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/14—Greenhouses
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns an agricultural greenhouse comprising a metallic frame which supports transparent covering means having asymmetrical slopes.
  • said metallic frame comprises at least two supporting elements for the purpose of being disposed in east-west direction, and each of which is formed of two posts, interconnected by a supporting girder, with the upper ends of said supporting elements being interconnected by a plurality of girders, intended to receive covering means which are formed of panels made of transparent plastic material mounted flatwise and having undulations which are parallel to said supporting elements, said undulations each having two asymmetrical slopes, with the greater slope being directed southward, the angle ⁇ between the greater slope being about 25° to 35°, and the angle ⁇ between the smaller slope of each undulation and the horizontal being about 55° to 65°, and at least one of said covering elements being mounted pivotably around a horizontal axis at its free edge which is directed southward, with control means being provided for causing said panel or panels of the movable covering to pivot at a predetermined angle.
  • the structure thus obtained is simple and of light weight.
  • the undulated plastic covering means are sufficiently rigid to allow flat mounting. Due to their mechanical resistance and their low weight, they can be easily and rapidly handled and installed.
  • the junction between two adjacent panels can be realized by simple covering without complex tightness joints.
  • the orientation and inclination of the slopes of undulation of the covering means are determined according to the invention in such a manner that in winter a maximum of light and heat is captured inside the greenhouse. During said period, the covering means extend in their vertical position and close the roof of the greenhouse according to the invention completely. It can be said that each undulation acts like the asymmetrical roof of a known glass greenhouse, and that the panels according to the invention retain all the advantages of an asymmetrical roof while being mounted flatwise without complex tightness joints.
  • the pivoting panels according to the invention are raised to allow ventilation to be effective inside the greenhouse. They are guided into a position in which they reflect a very large amount of the impinging sun rays. It is thus possible to maintain inside the greenhose a suitable temperature without ventilation.
  • each supporting beam comprises a horizontal central section and two inclined end sections which are interconnected by brackets, with the upper ends of the posts being linked by a horizontal small beam, connected to the different sections of the supporting beam by brackets, whereas the free ends of the end sections are connected by brackets to said posts.
  • the unit of covering means is mounted pivotally, and the different panel units are actuated in synchronized fashion so that they are always inclined at the same angle relative to the horizontal, and said control means of the pivoting covering panels are actuated by a control mechanism which aims at guiding the covering panels at any given time into the inclined position which corresponds to the optimum reflection of the sun rays impinging upon the covering means.
  • Ventilation of the greenhouse according to the invention during summer is thus particularly efficient, and the covering panels are always positioned at optimum inclination to limit the passage of light and heat toward the inside of the greenhouse. This is particularly important when the greenhouse according to the invention is to be set up in a hot country with much sunshine.
  • said actuating mechanism comprises a first photocell, fixedly mounted on the greenhouse, which gives a signal proportional to the angle of incidence of the sun rays. It is applied to a suitable forming circuit for producing a signal corresponding to the optimum inclination of the covering means; a second photocell provided on the control means of the pivoting elements, and which gives a signal proportional to the given inclination of said pivoting elements, with the output signals of the forming circuit and the second photocell being applied to a comparator circuit whose output signals control the movement in two opposite directions or the stopping of the control means of the pivoting covering elements.
  • Such an actuating device is of rather simple construction and may be in the form of all types of mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic control means which can be utilized for moving the covering elements of the greenhouse according to the invention.
  • said beams or girders which are used to support the covering means comprise at their upper surface, at predetermined distances, vertical rods for being engaged in fixing and positioning holes provided in the covering panels.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the metallic frame of a greenhouse according to the invention prior to the putting in place of the covering elements;
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical schematic section of two covering elements of the greenhouse according to the invention and of their fixing means;
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the actuating means of the motor or lifting jack which, in summer, control the raising of the covering elements shown in FIG. 3.
  • the frame of the greenhouse according to the invention comprises at least two metallic frame members 1, 2 which are parallel and spaced from each other at a predetermined distance. These members are normally alined in east-west direction to allow north-south planting.
  • Each frame member 1, 2 comprises two steel posts 3 which are fixed to the ground in concrete blocks 4 or the like.
  • the upper ends of the posts 3 are interconnected by a beam 5.
  • This beam is reinforced by a girder having the general reference 6.
  • Said girder 6 is formed of a central section 7 and two end sections 8.
  • the central section 7 is in length substantially equal to twice the length of the end sections 8. It is connected with its two ends to the beam 5 by means of brackets 9 and 10 which also assure connection with the end sections 8.
  • the two end sections 8 of the distance girder 6 are fixed, on the one hand, to the central section 7 by the brackets 9 and 10, and, on the other hand, to the posts 3 by the brackets 12 and 13.
  • the end sections 8 are inclined relative to the horizontal to reinforce conveniently the frame members 1, 2.
  • the two frame members 1, 2 are interconnected by a plurality of girders 14 which lie on the beams 5.
  • a plurality of beams 15 are fixed which are parallel to the beams 5 and which are adapted to support the roof means 16 (FIG. 2).
  • the spacing between the beams 5 is a function of the distance and the spacing of the roof means 16.
  • they comprise on their upper surface thin rods for attaching the roof means 16.
  • Said roof means 16 are in the form of flat panels 17 provided with regularly spaced undulations which extend in the direction of the beams 5 and 15.
  • These panels 16 are made of a transparent plastic material, preferably a polyester. They have at predetermined distances rows of apertures for the passing through of the thin rods 18, provided on the beams 15. Their installation, positioning and attachment are thus easily and rapidly carried out.
  • the undulations 17 are asymmetrical and the panels 16 are set up in such a way that the greater slope 19, i.e. the least inclined, is directed southward as indicated in FIG. 2 by the double arrow NS.
  • the angle ⁇ between the greater slope 19 and the horizontal is about 25° to 35° and preferably around 35°, whereas the angle ⁇ between the small slope 20 of each undulation and the horizontal is about 55° to 65°, and preferably around 65°.
  • the summits of the undulations can have a pointed angle (FIG. 2) or can be rounded (not shown).
  • the orientation and inclination of the slopes of the undulations 17 of the panels according to the invention is relatively unfavorable for conditions prevailing in hot countries.
  • several or even all of the covering panels 16 of the greenhouse according to the invention can be mounted pivotally at their edge extending southward, as is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the greenhouse shown in FIG. 3 comprises between two supporting frame members 1, 2, three undulated covering panels 16, mounted pivotally at their southwardly directed edge around a horizontal axis of rotation 21.
  • the raising and lowering of the panels 16 can be controlled in a known manner (not shown here in detail) by rods 22, actuated by mechanical or hydraulic control means.
  • the panels 16 are raised at a predetermined inclination which allows good ventilation of the greenhouse and optimum reflection of sunlight.
  • the panels 17 are placed in their horizontal position for assuring optimum penetration of light into the greenhouse.
  • the inclination of the panels 16 can be regulated during this period or even every day of said period as a function of the angle of incidence of the impingement of sun rays.
  • known servo-mechanisms are used, for example, for the automatic orientation of sun light collectors.
  • FIG. 4 shows by way of example a diagram of such an actuating device.
  • This device comprises two photo-electric cells 23, 24, one of which, 23, is mounted on the greenhouse in a fixed, southward direction.
  • the other cell, 24, is mounted on a panel of the movable cover.
  • the output signal of the fixed cell 23 is applied to a calculating and forming circuit which supplies for each day of summer and as a function of the position of the sun, a signal which is proportional to the optimum inclination of the panels 16.
  • the photocell 24 supplies a signal corresponding to the instantaneous inclination of the panel 16.
  • the output signal of the cell 24 and of the forming circuit 25 are applied to the input of a comparator 26.
  • the output of the comparator 26 supplies a control signal which, after having been formed in a circuit 27, is applied to the control means 28 of the rods 22. They thus control a raising or lowering of the panels 16.
  • the output signal of the comparator becomes 0, and the control means 28 are put out of operation.
  • the photocell 24 can also be mounted on the control means of the rods 22 and thus supply a signal proportional to a relatively instantaneous position of a part of said means.
  • the function of the circuit 25 will in this case be determined as a function of the type of signal supplied by the photocell 24.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Greenhouses (AREA)
US06/604,013 1983-04-28 1984-04-26 Agricultural greenhouse with a flat roof Expired - Fee Related US4586297A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8306996A FR2544959B1 (fr) 1983-04-28 1983-04-28 Serre agricole a toiture plate
FR8306996 1983-04-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4586297A true US4586297A (en) 1986-05-06

Family

ID=9288314

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/604,013 Expired - Fee Related US4586297A (en) 1983-04-28 1984-04-26 Agricultural greenhouse with a flat roof

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US4586297A (it)
BE (1) BE899523A (it)
DE (1) DE3414303A1 (it)
ES (1) ES279073Y (it)
FR (1) FR2544959B1 (it)
GR (1) GR81991B (it)
IT (1) IT1173935B (it)
NL (1) NL8401205A (it)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5261184A (en) * 1991-06-12 1993-11-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Greenhouse construction and improved method of growing plants
US6131363A (en) * 1998-03-20 2000-10-17 Innovative Greenhousing Systems, Inc. Greenhouse roof glazing system
US20040065006A1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2004-04-08 Weder Donald E. Low profile commercial greenhouse
EP1529437A1 (en) * 2003-11-10 2005-05-11 Christopher Partington Haley Flat-roofed fully opening greenhouse
US20070240370A1 (en) * 2006-04-13 2007-10-18 Chinniah Thiagarajan Multi-wall structural components having enhanced radiatransmission capability
US20070251166A1 (en) * 2006-04-13 2007-11-01 Chinniah Thiagarajan Polymer panels and methods of making the same
US20110041397A1 (en) * 2008-12-22 2011-02-24 Masataka Kamahara Greenhouse windbreak mechanism
USD771520S1 (en) * 2015-05-26 2016-11-15 Mb3, Llc Hydroponic growing stand
US11158006B1 (en) * 2020-11-24 2021-10-26 Edible Garden Ag Incorporated Greenhouse agriculture system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19526354C1 (de) * 1995-07-19 1997-01-16 Schober Werkzeug & Maschbau Vorrichtung zum Bearbeiten einer Materialbahn
CN113940215B (zh) * 2021-09-23 2024-02-02 西安临潼乡村振兴发展投资有限公司 一种农业种植用智能光伏温室大棚

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1899912A (en) * 1930-10-14 1933-02-28 Pennsylvania Wire Glass Compan Corrugated glass window and light
US2958259A (en) * 1957-02-14 1960-11-01 Walkley B Ewing Skylight shade
US4143492A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-03-13 Dunn Mervin E Controlled sun-lit plant house
US4312157A (en) * 1980-05-19 1982-01-26 Ibg International, Inc. Greenhouse with hinged roof sections
NL8100635A (nl) * 1981-02-10 1982-09-01 Onderwater Kassenbouw B V Kas, warenhuis of dergelijke ruimtelijke constructie.

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1314013A (fr) * 1961-11-25 1963-01-04 Verreries De La Gare Et A Belo Perfectionnements aux éléments ondulés de toiture
FR2481061B1 (fr) * 1980-04-24 1985-11-08 J T Provence Sa Structure de serres

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1899912A (en) * 1930-10-14 1933-02-28 Pennsylvania Wire Glass Compan Corrugated glass window and light
US2958259A (en) * 1957-02-14 1960-11-01 Walkley B Ewing Skylight shade
US4143492A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-03-13 Dunn Mervin E Controlled sun-lit plant house
US4312157A (en) * 1980-05-19 1982-01-26 Ibg International, Inc. Greenhouse with hinged roof sections
NL8100635A (nl) * 1981-02-10 1982-09-01 Onderwater Kassenbouw B V Kas, warenhuis of dergelijke ruimtelijke constructie.

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5261184A (en) * 1991-06-12 1993-11-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Greenhouse construction and improved method of growing plants
US6131363A (en) * 1998-03-20 2000-10-17 Innovative Greenhousing Systems, Inc. Greenhouse roof glazing system
US20040065006A1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2004-04-08 Weder Donald E. Low profile commercial greenhouse
EP1529437A1 (en) * 2003-11-10 2005-05-11 Christopher Partington Haley Flat-roofed fully opening greenhouse
US8590271B2 (en) 2006-04-13 2013-11-26 Sabic Innovative Plastics Ip B.V. Multi-wall structural components having enhanced radiatransmission capability
US20070251166A1 (en) * 2006-04-13 2007-11-01 Chinniah Thiagarajan Polymer panels and methods of making the same
US7992361B2 (en) 2006-04-13 2011-08-09 Sabic Innovative Plastics Ip B.V. Polymer panels and methods of making the same
US20070240370A1 (en) * 2006-04-13 2007-10-18 Chinniah Thiagarajan Multi-wall structural components having enhanced radiatransmission capability
US20110041397A1 (en) * 2008-12-22 2011-02-24 Masataka Kamahara Greenhouse windbreak mechanism
US8381434B2 (en) * 2008-12-22 2013-02-26 Masataka Kamahara Greenhouse windbreak mechanism
USD771520S1 (en) * 2015-05-26 2016-11-15 Mb3, Llc Hydroponic growing stand
US11158006B1 (en) * 2020-11-24 2021-10-26 Edible Garden Ag Incorporated Greenhouse agriculture system
US11410249B2 (en) 2020-11-24 2022-08-09 Edible Garden Ag Incorporated Greenhouse agriculture system
US11830088B2 (en) 2020-11-24 2023-11-28 Edible Garden Ag Incorporated Greenhouse agriculture system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2544959A1 (fr) 1984-11-02
FR2544959B1 (fr) 1991-06-28
ES279073Y (es) 1985-06-01
NL8401205A (nl) 1984-11-16
IT8420709A0 (it) 1984-04-27
IT8420709A1 (it) 1985-10-27
GR81991B (it) 1984-12-12
DE3414303A1 (de) 1984-10-31
BE899523A (fr) 1984-08-16
IT1173935B (it) 1987-06-24
ES279073U (es) 1984-12-01

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LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

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Effective date: 19900506